Gallivant Africa Magazine S02E01

gallivant africa
MAGAZINE
S02 E01
THE AUDACITY TRAVEL TECH
AN ANALYSIS OF BRANDS RESHAPING
THEIR SECTOR
THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY HAS A PAYMENTS
PROBLEM. WHAT NOW?
the audacious issue

editor's note...
Welcome to season two of Gallivant Africa magazine.
In this issue we explore the brands and destinations
with the audacity to do things differently (page 26). We
look at the role tech plays across various industries
and what's next now that Gen-AI could be a "thing".
While we reflect on travelling without wrecking the
planet with each flight we board (page 16), does
Africa's travel industry have a payments problem
(page 36)? The real question is, how are high net worth
travellers like you capitalizing on latest trends in the
travel industry (page 38)?
I hope this issue reflects how rich Africa truly is, culturally and intellectually. Some travel businesses and
destinations have found a receptive audience among travellers eager to visit previously unheralded locations.
Finally, as you remain inspired to visit new destinations like the City of Kings (page 47) or the most
remarkable Roman colosseum in Africa (page 32), I believe what you'll find on page (51) will help you
strengthen your passport power and enhance your global mobility. Enjoy!
Miriro Matema
contributors...
STAFF
Miriro Matema
Founder | Chief Editor
Zibusiso Sobhuza
Group Production Lead
Gallivant Africa Intern
Lerato Kubuzie
Gallivant Africa Intern
Michelle Peters
CONTRIBUTORS
Shebs Alom
Shebs the Wanderer
Patrick Biagini
Voyager Luxe
Lali Makhalima
Lucrative Leadership
Denise Pfende
Africa from Afar
CONTRIBUTORS
Marcel Borowitz
Freelance: Aviation Alerts
Mapaseka Sekgala
MPS Wine Tours
Andreas Thölken
EVINTRA
Ines Stoll
Pfeffer
4 DASHBOARD / S02 E01

credits...
STAFF ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Miriro Matema
Founder | Chief Editor
miriro@gallivant.africa
Ashton Sobhuza
Group Production Lead
ashton@gallivant.africa
Franca Ditkke
Marketing Manager
franca@gallivant.africa
Peter Kimingi
Finance Manager
accounts@gallivant.africa
Tracy Otto
Distribution/Sales Lead
tracy@gallivant.africa
Mazvita Akintola
Partnerships Lead
mazvita@gallivant.africa
Andrea Steyn
Partnerships Assistant
andrea@gallivant.africa
Pexels and Shutterstock
Stock Imagery Supplier
Remata
Print & Communication
IHS Publishing
Distribution: Africa & Europe
LMPI
Distribution: USA & Canada
Gallivant Africa Head Office:
Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg
Tel: +2781 278 8706
6 DASHBOARD / S02 E01

contents...
SPECIALS
16 Are Airlines to Blame for
the Climate Mess? A New
Perspective on Aviation
20 How Hotels are Using
Technology for Competitive
Advantage
26 COVER: The Audacity:
An Analysis of Brands
Reshaping Their Sector
FEATURES
32 Is This The Most
remarkable Roman
Colosseum in Africa?
41 Travel Trends Among
High Net Worth
Individuals
51 Top 10 Most Powerful
Passports In Africa and
How To Access Global GDP
EXCLUSIVES
36 The Travel Industry Has a
Payments Problem.
What Now?
38 Trends Shaping Travel and
How to Capitalize On Them
47 10 Things You Should
Know About Bulawayo
8 DASHBOARD / S02 E01

stacking the stats
A snapshot of
numbers that
may surprise
you about
Africa's travel
industry...
Cruising at US$16.35m
Cruise tourism generates R300 million (US$16.35m) in annual
economic impact and supports thousands of jobs in Cape Town and
the Western Cape, and the start of the 2022/23 cruise season
represents a significant milestone in realising Cruise Cape Town’s
goal of capitalising on the growing global cruise tourism trend and
growing the cruise economy.
Cape Town’s cruise 2022/23 season, which will see visits from 75
ships carrying more than 195 000 passengers, will again inject
hundreds of millions of rand in tourism spend into the city’s
economy.
172% in Tourism Recovery
International tourist arrivals increased 172% in January-July 2022
over 2021, but remained 43% below 2019. As tourism restarts in an
increasing number of countries, the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) is monitoring a number of relevant indicators throughout
the recovery of tourism.
4 out of 8
Travel bans, social restrictions and health
protocols continue to disrupt the travel
industry. The pandemic highlighted flaws
in volume-driven tourism models which are
no longer fit for purpose in this new era.
Between 2021 - 2022, South Africa saw the
demise of airlines SA Express and Kulula,
only to face the indefinite grounding of
both Mango and Comair in March 2022.
These losses left just four of the country’s
eight airlines in the skies, namely
FlySafair, CemAir, Airlink, and newcomer,
Lift. Comair dipped in and out of financial
woes throughout 2022, and finally gave up
the fight in June.

african agenda
Africa Showcase
Africa Showcase returns to Southern Europe to
reconnect our African exhibitors with the passionate
Africa specialists in this region. We're seeing a lot of
new potential in this market as a result of staff changes
over the past two years and lots of new travel designers
emerging. 5 – 10 Feb 2023
Our Africa Travel
OurAfrica.Travel is a completely virtual trade show that
connects exhibitors from Africa and Indian Ocean
Islands with buyers from around the world. Participants
control with whom they have meetings and control their
diary, in their own time zone, with one-to-one, 20-minute
virtual meetings on an easy to use platform.
20 – 24 Feb 2023
Meetings Africa
Meetings Africa features Africa as a destination spot. It
aims at providing a comprehensive panorama in the
field of the travel industry in Africa. It is a great place
for connecting with a global network of decisionmakers,
and executives or simply booking a vacation
trip in the travel industry. 27 Feb - 1 March 2023.
ILTM Africa
International Luxury Travel Market Africa is a specialist
invitation-only event, where the very best travel agents
and advisors from across the world meet Africa's most
spectacular luxury travel experience, providers. It is the
first luxury travel event in Africa to introduce buyers
from across the globe to a collection of high-end
African travel experiences. 31 Mar - 02 Apr 2023.

features...

aviation
More Production Incentives Needed
to Reach Net Zero
The International Air Transport Association (IATA)
estimates that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
production will reach at least 300 million liters in
2022—a 200% increase on 2021 production of 100
million liters. More optimistic calculations estimate
total production in 2022 could reach 450 million
liters.
Both scenarios position the SAF industry on the
verge of an exponential capacity and production
ramp-up toward an identified tipping point of 30
billion liters by 2030, with the right supporting
policies
14 AVIATION / S02 E01
BY FRANCA DITKKE
Airlines are committed to achieve net zero CO2
emissions by 2050 and see SAF as a key contributor.
Current estimates expect SAF to account for 65% of
the mitigation needed for this, requiring a production
capacity of 450 billion liters annually in 2050.
Having agreed to a Long Term Aspirational Goal
(LTAG) on climate at the 41st Assembly of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in
October 2022, governments now share the same
target for aviation’s decarbonization and interest in
the success of SAF.

“There was at least triple the amount of SAF in the
market in 2022 than in 2021. And airlines used every
drop, even at very high prices! If more was available,
it would have been purchased. That makes it clear
that it is a supply issue and that market forces alone
are insufficient to solve it. Governments, who now
share the same 2050 net zero goal, need to put in
place comprehensive production incentives for SAF.
It is what they did to successfully transition
economies to renewable sources of electricity. And
it is what aviation needs to decarbonize,” said Willie
Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
To date, over 450,000 commercial flights have been
operated using SAF, and the growing number of
airlines signing offtake agreements with producers
sends a clear signal to the markets that SAF is
needed in larger quantities, and so far in 2022,
around 40 offtake agreements have been
announced.
Until we have commercialized options for alternative
power sources such as hydrogen, all of aviation’s
SAF supply will be derived from biofuel refineries.
These refineries produce renewable biodiesel,
biogas, as well as SAF and their refining capacity is
set to grow by over 400% % by 2025 compared to
2022. The challenge for aviation is to secure its
supply of SAF from this capacity. And to do that
successfully governments need to put in place SAF
production incentives similar to what is already in
place for biogas and biodiesel.
Fly Net Zero is the commitment of airlines to achieve
net zero carbon by 2050. At the 77th IATA Annual
General Meeting in Boston, USA, on 4 October 2021,
a resolution was passed by IATA member airlines
committing them to achieving net-zero carbon
emissions from their operations by 2050. This
pledge brings air transport in line with the objectives
of the Paris agreement to limit global warming to
1.5°C.

aviation
Are Airlines to Blame for the Climate
Mess? A New Perspective
Recent polling shows one-third of Americans would
be willing to pay for carbon offsets when buying a
plane ticket to reduce their carbon footprint, but
claims of airline “greenwashing” with carbon credits
are one of the reasons more companies are moving
away from reliance on this climate approach.
BY MARCEL BOROWITZ
If you are upset that legroom on airplanes is
shrinking, you may be relieved to hear that your
footprint may be next. Your carbon footprint.
Airplane passengers are now given the option to
offset the environmental impact of their own flight
by paying an extra airfare fee for carbon offsets.
Many climate change experts say airlines should be
focused on sustainable jet fuels for net-zero carbon
goals without use of offsets, and in fact, airlines
from United to JetBlue and Delta are moving in this
direction.
Given the rising cost of air travel, adding more to the
price of a plane ticket may not be especially
appealing, but recent polling data from Morning
Consult has shown that more Americans are willing
to consider this a price worth paying.
16 AVIATION / S02 E01

Numerous airlines now offer such programs.
American Airlines has a carbon offset plan in
partnership with nonprofit Cool Effect, through
which customers are provided options for
offsetting the carbon emissions associated with
their flights. Delta Air Lines has a similar program
as part of its net zero initiative.
Etihad Airways recently rolled out a program with
partner CarbonClick to allow travellers to offset
their flight emissions from a basket of Carbon
Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International
Aviation (CORSIA) eligible projects that are
geographically diverse and offer ways to support
communities, climate action and biodiversity.
This program also gives passengers the ability to
earn rewards through participation in what the
airline calls Etihad Guest Conscious Choices.
Southwest Airlines ’ “Wanna offset carbon?”
program provides a match from the company for
every dollar a customer pays to offset carbon and
rapid rewards bonus points – 10 points for every
dollar spent.
In general, the way such programs work is that the
carbon impact of a flight is calculated, and a fee
is then determined that can “offset” this impact,
minimizing or zeroing out the carbon imprint of a
passenger’s flight. Calculating the CO2-equivalent
emissions from the flight divided by the number
of miles flown and the number of passengers is
the basic idea. CO2-equivalent emissions are the
emissions of carbon dioxide plus those of other
global warming chemicals (e.g, black carbon and
methane), each multiplied by their global warming
potential (ratio of warming over 20 or 100 years
of the chemical per unit mass to that of CO2),
explained Mark Jacobson, professor of civil and
environmental engineering at Stanford University.
“At the moment, there is no alternative to aviation
when it comes to long distance and low carbon
travel. Carbon offsetting is an immediate, direct
and pragmatic means to encourage action to limit
climate change impacts, at least in the short-term,”
said Mariam Alqubaisi, head of sustainability at
Etihad Airways.
That is true, but it is also a reason why many
climate experts say the airlines should be more
focused on bigger goals related to sustainable
aviation fuels and their own net-zero goals, expassenger
contributions.
Sustainability,
ex-passenger
Globally, the aviation industry is estimated to be
responsible for about 2.1% of CO2 emissions. In
the transportation sector, aviation creates about
12% of CO2 emissions, while road transport is
attributed to 74%. Those numbers are expected to
increase on a relative basis in the decades ahead
as air travel increases, and as auto companies
make faster progress on transition to electric
vehicles.
Most major airlines have sustainability initiatives
in place in addition to carbon offsets – many have
committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and are
exploring options like sustainable aviation fuels
and more efficient aircrafts as climate priorities.
United Airlines for example, has committed to net
zero carbon by 2050 without any contribution from
traditional carbon offsets. Among its current
focuses is corporate partnerships to de-carbonize
aviation and venture capital investments.
18 AVIATION / S02 E01

Within the aviation industry, a few airlines have
dropped passenger carbon offset programs,
including JetBlue and EasyJet, which ditched the
concept to focus more on sustainable airline fuels
and more efficient aircrafts. JetBlue achieved
carbon neutrality on domestic flights in 2020 and
just this month, the airline said in its latest net
zero carbon policy statement that lowering
carbon emissions from operations will take
primacy over any contribution from offsets, and
the goal is to “drive down the need for carbon
credits as much as possible.”
There also remains skepticism about how well the
carbon accounting works in practice, and
“greenwashing” claims have made carbon offset
program including those for passengers a
potential liability for the airlines. A recent
Washington Post article on aviation carbon claims
dinged Delta for its use of carbon offsets, and
that led Delta to speak in a different way about
the future of offsets. New Delta chief
sustainability officer Pam Fletcher told the Post
she opposes buying such credits. “It was the best
tool at the time,” she said. “So kudos to getting
some momentum on climate change. Now we are
laser-focused on decarbonization in our company
and industry working on the issues within our own
four walls.”
“Calculating an individual’s carbon footprint can
be as much art as science,” Environmental and
Energy Study Institute executive director Daniel
Bresette explained in an email.
It might be tempting to buy an offset to ease
one’s conscience, Bressette said, but the simplest
offset schemes merely calculate an estimate
based on how many miles the trip will cover.
While that that sounds straightforward, it fails to
account for how fuel-efficient the aircraft is, how
full it will be, or what the weather conditions will
be.
There are a lot of variables to consider when
making an accurate calculation,” Bressette wrote.
Bresette said one factor that goes into the
calculation is a mix of science and economics that
airlines are expert at: estimating and reducing fuel
consumption. Fuel is expensive, after all, making
up about a quarter of operating expenses in 2022.
“That’s a big share, so airlines are incentivized to
know precisely how much fuel a flight will need.
That helps them calculate the flight’s carbon
footprint, and an individual’s share of it,” he said.
Questions about
carbon offsets
The harder part is figuring out how to calculate its
offset. If the offset is funding tree plantings, what
kind of tree will be planted and where? If the offset
funds renewable energy, what type of energy
generation will those projects be replacing? If the
offset funds go to energy efficiency, how carbon
intensive is the energy otherwise being consumed?
These questions can be answered, but only after
significant analysis and a lot of informationgathering.
That means a lot of fine print from
passengers to read.
“Until carbon offsets are better regulated and more
transparent, travellers need to exercise due
diligence to determine whether they’re worthwhile
in terms of costs and benefits. Offsets should be
transparent about what climate benefits a traveller
is making possible,” Bresette said.
As part of consciousness-raising, it is helpful for
people to think in terms of their own carbon
footprints and how they can reduce them. But
stated preferences can be quite different from
actual consumer behavior, which is much harder to
change.

hotels
How Hotels are Using
Tech for Competitive
Advantage BY TAF TARUVINGA
Technology can help the hospitality sector streamline
their processes, reduce costs, lower staff workloads,
increase revenue generation potential, and improve
customer experience delivery.
Technological advances have played a significant role,
especially in the widespread adoption of voice search,
augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the
Internet of Things. Contactless payments have
become more popular in retail, while mobile check-ins
have emerged in hotels, restaurants, and airports.
Many of these technologies have grown because they
help to reduce friction and cut waiting times.
20 HOTELS / S02 E01

Voice Search &
Voice Control
Voice search is a growing technology trend within
hospitality because many guests or customers are
turning to voice search to find hotels, restaurants,
and cafes. It is worth taking the time to properly
capitalize on this. To do so, you must ensure your
website and booking engine are structured so the
voice search can be used properly.
In some settings, the demand for voice control is
also growing. This could include everything from
using smart speakers in hotel rooms, allowing for
control of the various in-room devices, to automated
order-taking in restaurants and cafes, meaning
customers will no longer need to wait for waiting
staff to take their orders.
Benefits of voice control in the hospitality industry
include personalisation, better customer experience
and increased marketability.
Contactless Payments
Contactless payments offer several advantages for
hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, and cafes, which is why
this has been among the main technology trends in the
hospitality industry. Aside from speeding up payments
and improving customer satisfaction, contactless tech is
also easily compatible with loyalty programs.
Mobile contactless payments are possible even if
customers do not have their wallets or their credit card
has been misplaced. Additionally, with COVID still in the
minds of hotel guests and other hospitality customers,
contactless payments can also offer an excellent way to
reduce human-to-human contact.
Mobile check-in services are quickly becoming one of the
mainstays of the hotel sector. This is the very same
reason why managers and stakeholders need to
appreciate the options and benefits at their disposal.

Robots in Hotels
One of the most exciting technology trends the
hospitality industry is getting to grips with is the rise
of robotics and the use of robots to carry out tasks
traditionally performed by humans. For instance,
robots can occupy a concierge role within hotels,
welcoming guests and providing them with
important customer information.
Similarly, some hotels have started using robots for
cleaning, such as vacuum-cleaning floors and even
germ-killing.
Part of the reason robots have emerged as a
popular technology trend within the hospitality
industry is that ideas of automation and self-service
are playing an increasingly vital role in the customer
experience. The use of robots can lead to
improvements in terms of speed, cost-effectiveness
and even accuracy.
Gen-AI and ChatGPT
At the end of 2022, ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, was
launched by OpenAI. If you’ve been on the internet since
then, you’ll have seen that ChatGPT and generative AI are
hot topics of discussion. Many people have already
tested and trialled ChatGPT with amazing, and
sometimes humorous results. Experts predict the
adoption of AI will be quicker than that of the internet.
ChatGPT and Gen-AI are likely to have a big impact on a
number of roles across industries like automated guest
communication and engagement, improved guest
experience and personalisation and a new way of travel
planning
Generative AI won’t revolutionise the travel industry.
However, it will be able to help reduce the manual work
associated with a number of tasks.

hotels
Hotel Development
Pipelines in Africa
BY W HOSPITALITY
The African hotel chain development pipeline now
totals 447 hotels with 80,291 rooms. This total
has been analysed initially according to two main
regions, i.e. North Africa (we count this as five
countries – Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt)
and sub-Saharan Africa (49 countries, including the
Indian Ocean islands). The pipeline in sub-Saharan
Africa is down 6 per cent on 2021 (measured by
rooms), whilst in North Africa the total is up by 12 per
cent. This is the first year in many that the sub-Saharan
African pipeline has decreased, and this is for three
main reasons: fewer new opportunities in the region;
opening of some 2,700 rooms in 15 hotels
last year, and a pipeline “cleansing” which the hotel
chains do periodically (the last one was in 2019) to
remove some no-hopers.
Although the pipeline total is above the 2020 and 2021
figures, sub-Saharan Africa is falling behind, with
fewer rooms in 2022 – the growth has been entirely in
North Africa, specifically in Egypt, which on its own
has seen growth of 40 per cent in pipeline rooms. Of
the six sub-Saharan countries in the top 10 (see Table
4) only Cape Verde has seen an increase (33 per cent),
whilst the “power houses”, i.e. Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya
and South Africa have between them seen a decline of
29 per cent (Nigeria is down 41 per cent).
The hotel chains have deals signed in 42 countries in
Africa. West Africa leads with 13 countries (out of 18),
followed by the Southern & Indian Ocean region where
there are 11 countries with pipeline development
activity. Central Africa has seen increased activity, now
with 20deals HOTELS in 5 of / S02 8 countries E01 in the sub-region lag,
Gabon and Chad joining the group this year.
There are 12 countries in Africa with no reported chain
pipeline hotels. These are some of the smallest
countries on the continent, with the exception of Sudan
which is one of the largest. There has been progress,
10 years ago there were 19 countries with no reported
deals. Of the 12 countries with no deals, 9 already have
branded supply, and only three – Burundi, Central
African Republic and Eritrea - have no deals and no
existing branded supply.
"2020 and 2021 were challenging years for the
hospitality industry. However, this was an opportunity
which prompted all of us to embrace a more flexible
mindset, while re-thinking our business strategies and
adjusting our goals. The opening of new hotels during
these past two years required us to be more patient
with the obvious delays caused by the important
COVID-19 restrictions." - Henri Kennedie, President
and Chief Executive, Swiss International

Hilton tops the list of brands this year by both
measures (this is only hotels branded as Hilton,
and doesn’t include other brands in the Hilton
chain – likewise with Marriott Hotels & Resorts,
this is the ranking for Marriott International’s
eponymous brand). Hilton has been there at
the top for several years, and the top 10 are
entirely within four hotel chains, Accor, Hilton,
Marriott International and Radisson Hotel Group.
Although Swissôtel’s number of hotels is lower
than the other brands, the average size of its
hotels is much larger (40 per cent above rival
Hilton), hence its inclusion in the by-rooms
ranking. Swissôtel also has the highest increase
in pipeline rooms by brand, with some very large
hotels signed in 2021 – in Egypt, of course!
Two of Accor’s other brands, Fairmont and
Mövenpick, also saw high increases in their
pipeline this year, as did Marriott International’s
eponymous brand, and its Four Points by
Sheraton brand.
"Hilton has a proud history of pioneering travel and
tourism in Africa for over 50 years. Today we have
100 hotels trading or in development under our
portfolio of world class brands and see great longterm
confidence in the region. In spite of the
disruption caused by Covid-19, we continue to look
to the future and add to our pipeline, which now
contains over 10,000 rooms."
"Recent openings include Mango House Seychelles
our first LXR Hotels & Resorts property in Africa
which is positioned in the luxury segment of the
market." - Andrew McLachlan, Managing Director
Development Sub-Saharan Africa, Hilton.
The total development pipeline is up on last year –
not a lot, but up is up! There are four new countries
with new branded hotel deals, and 2021 was a
good year for several hotel chains in terms of
signings, especially as they were able to get back
out there and sign in person. There is no indication
that any deals were lost from the pipeline because
of owner cancellations; plenty of delays, but that’s
a global phenomenon, not just in Africa.

cover story...

The Audacity: An
Analysis of Brands
BY DENISE PFENDE
As global forces converge to create unprecedented change
across all industries, the future of travel and tourism will be
shaped by those companies and destinations which provide
unique and meaningful experiences, harness the power of
networks, provide a personal service to sustainability-minded
consumers, and are led by trustworthy and responsible
leadership. We unearth Africa's travel brands by sector who
are reshaping the travel experience.
Aviation: FlySafair
FlySafair is the first airline in the world to deploy Chat 2 Pay
with a pay-by-link capability that allows its customers the
convenience of effortless mobile payments via FlySafair’s
WhatsApp channel.
Clickatell, the Chat Commerce and mobile messaging leader,
today announced that they have gone live with its Chat 2 Pay
feature with FlySafair, one of South Africa’s low-cost airlines.
FlySafair customers can access the WhatsApp service by
sending “Hi” to the FlySafair business account. Once in the
WhatsApp channel, customers can select “My Booking” and
then “Buy a Bag” and follow the prompts on the secure
payment link to make a purchase on WhatsApp. Customers
can also scan a QR code at the check-in counters to receive
the secure payment link.
Interacting and transacting with airlines using mobile
messaging has already been welcomed by travellers.
Clickatell’s latest Chat Commerce Trends Report: Travel
Edition 2022 (https://bit.ly/3YeoQ0E), found that 89% of
consumers would like to use mobile messaging to interact
with airlines and 77% said they are willing to use a mobile
payment link with travel brands. Commerce within mobile
messaging is becoming the preferred way for consumers to
transact, accounting for 71% (https://bit.ly/3HwvJn4) of retail
traffic and generating 61% (https://bit.ly/3JxkKg3) of online
shopping orders.

Reshaping Their
Sector
Hospitality: Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is making strides to furnish
their ships with environmentally friendly and ethically sourced
materials. In doing so, they’ve made sustainability a tactile
experience for guests while nudging the industry toward a
greener future.
Many cruise lines are also making investments in big-picture
sustainability efforts. In late 2020, the pandemic-battered
cruise industry set a goal of pursuing net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050. Now the challenge is to make that goal —
or even the ambitious target of net zero — a reality.
Energy:
The industry’s current focus is on liquefied natural gas, or
LNG: a cleaner-burning fossil fuel that reduces particulate
emissions by as much as 95% as well as overall carbon burn
by about a fifth.
More efficient “shore power” is another way lines are cutting
fuel burn. Today, only a small percentage of cruise ports
worldwide have infrastructure that allows ships to plug in to
the local electrical grid, rather than run their engines while
docked.
Supply Chain:
As part of the Sail & Sustain program, we partnered with
BarLab to develop eco-friendly cocktails. Guests can enjoy
drinks made with surplus ingredients such as pineapple rinds,
orange peels, spent coffee grounds and more across the
entire fleet.
Norwegian Cruise Line and its sister brands eliminated singleuse
plastic straws across their entire fleet. The brand
partnered with JUST® Goods, Inc., becoming the first major
global cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic water
bottles across its fleet.

Business Travel: Corporate Traveller
Any large organisation that wants to remain competitive
should check whether its travel management company is
keeping up with these developments and offering the right
blend of human expertise​​and technology. Sam is a highly
interactive, travel-savvy and anticipatory “Smart Assistant for
Mobile” that uses a conversational interface to answer
questions, make recommendations and perform actions. Sam
helps business travellers before, during and after their trips
with itinerary management, air and hotel bookings, flight
updates, local city and country information, local weather,
security notifications, ground transport, driving directions,
immigration advice and vaccination requirements.
Travel Technology: SITA
The mobile capability of SITA's new eVisa and ETA capability
allows travellers to make applications and provide their
biometric information using their personal devices before they
travel. For travellers, this is simpler, more convenient, and
less time-consuming than applying for more complex
traditional or on-arrival visas. For governments, they can
biometrically verify the applicant's identity. The mobile app
also creates ICAO-compliant Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs)
– a development in digital identity for travel that may replace
physical passports in the future.
Simple, secure, time and cost-efficient digital process which
improves traveller experience. Effective digital transformation
also offers significant cost savings and allows manual effort
to focus on more critical or higher risk activities.
Public Policy: Mauritius
The Mauritius government introduced the Premium Travel
Visa to encourage long-term visits. This visa is available to
digital nomads, retirees, long-term tourists, and other
professionals and their family members.
The visa grants one year in Mauritius, with multiple entries, so
you can come and go from the country as much as you wish.
Plus, you’ll get the chance to renew once complete.
The Premium Travel Visa has no visa fees, and the approval
should be made within 48 hours. You’ll also need proof of
income and must have a monthly threshold of USD$1500 to
qualify.

destinations
Is This The Most Remarkable Roman
Colosseum in Africa? BY SHEBS ALOM
The Amphitheatre El Jem bears an outstanding
witness to one of the most significant Roman
architecture in the world. Located in the centre of
Tunisia, it is made entirely of stone blocks, with no
foundations and free-standing. It is modelled on the
Colosseum of Rome without an exact copy of the
Flavian construction. This colossal theatre, at its
peak, could hold up to 35,000 spectators and is one
of the best preserved and most extensive in the
Roman empire. The Amphitheatre of El Jem is a
powerful symbol of the height of Roman Africa,
adding its unique touch to Roman culture.
Compared to Rome's Colosseum, you have camels to
go along with the magnificent view. The only
unfortunate thing was that there were hardly any
tourists. Although getting around the site was
efficient due to this.
The Colosseum in Rome gets approximately 7-8
million visitors a year, compared to the paltry figure
that El Jem gets. Perhaps because the theatre is in
Africa and getting to the site is challenging?
Whatever the reason, the Amphitheatre of El Jem
must be listed high on everyone's bucket list.
32 DESTINATIONS / S02 E01

The theatre was formerly in the Roman town of Thysdrus (modern-day El Jem), which was
one of the most influential towns in North Africa after Carthage due to trading and
commerce. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Amphitheatre served in the Middle
Ages as a fortress. The population sought refuge during the attacks of Vandals in 430 and
Arabs in 647. Today, the Amphitheatre sits as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites,
and I can't accentuate the beauty of the landmark until you go to see it for yourself.
To give you more perspective on why the visit would be breathtaking, a couple from the
Netherlands, Jacob and Anna, whom I met on-site, told me why they decided to make the
trip. They both told me, "It's the history of the place which attracted us. We love all the
Roman ruins, and we couldn't believe there was a twin version of the Rome Colosseum in
Tunisia. To see the structure in its glory is just incredible. This is far more outstanding
than the one in Rome for us. We don't say that lightly, as we also loved Rome's
Colosseum." Strong words emphasise why a trip to the Amphitheatre is all worth it.
In terms of travelling to El Jem, the best route to the Amphitheatre is to drive there if you
arrive in the capital Tunis. You can rent a car, which is very cost-effective. Or, you can
book a tour for the day, which can be expensive; however, I suggest booking a tour which
will take you to El Jem and a couple of other destinations. Such as Kairouan, the 4th
holiest city to be visited by Muslims behind Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. You can, of
course, stay in the city, where you can find some good hotels near the Amphitheatre.
The best times to visit would be outside the summer months due to the heat; however,
each night holds events inside the theatre in July and August, which one of the local guys
told me is unforgettable.
The entrance fee for the Amphitheatre at the time of my visit in late September 2022 was
TND 12, which, converted to dollars, was $3.60. When you compare the price to Rome's
Colosseum, it's an absolute bargain. The visiting hours are between 7.30 am to 6.30 pm,
Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday being 8.30 am to 6.30 pm.
After your visit, there are plenty of places to grab breakfast or lunch, depending on what
time you go. If you are looking for traditional Tunisian cuisine, Sami et Adel Belabed Cafe
et Restaurant, opposite the main entrance, is a great spot.
If the Rome Colosseum has been listed as one of the 7 Wonders of the World, then the
Amphitheatre El Jem has been hard done by as it most definitely deserves recognition and
awareness on that level. The theatre is a colossal Roman ruin worth every moment of your
time.

travel tech
The Travel Industry
Has a Payments
Problem. What Now?
BY PATRICK BIAGINI
The travel sector and the payments industry have never
had a simple working relationship. There are several
examples of travel industry failures, such as the
collapse of Thomas Cook and Monarch Airlines, that
have concluded with the travel operator and their
payments partner accusing the other of being the source
of the failure.
This happens when the acquirer withholds funds to
cover the cost of the chargebacks it will be liable to
repay customers if the operator goes out of business.
Taking this precaution is of course understandable, but
it is the view of the travel business that this withholding
of cashflow at a critical time creates enormous pressure
for them and in fact is final straw that triggers the very
collapse that the acquirer is seeking to protect itself
against.
And it hasn’t only been financial challenges that the
travel sector has suffered since the outbreak of COVID-
19; there have been operational issues to face as well,
as they were forced to process many millions of
reservation cancellations. To make matters worse,
some acquirers reacted to the adverse market
conditions by either exiting the sector altogether, or
resetting the terms of business with their travel clients.
This has put even more pressure on the relationship
between the two parties in a situation where the travel
business has options because fewer payments partners
that will work with them.
36 TRAVEL TECH / S02 E01
The pandemic brought that strain in the relationship into
even sharper focus. Global travel and tourism lost
almost $4.5 trillion in 2020. For context, while worldwide
gross domestic product contracted 3.7 percent, travel’s
contribution to the global economy reduced by 49.1
percent.

Future delivery
payments are
high risk
Much of the friction that can occur between the
travel sector and acquirers stems from the fact
that travel is considered a high-risk vertical by the
payments industry, and this was true well before
the pandemic.
This is true of all sectors where long periods of
time occur between the consumer’s payment and
the date that they receive the goods or services.
In the travel industry this period is typically 60-90
days.
If the goods or services are not delivered for any
reason, be it cancellation, unforeseen
circumstances such as COVID-19, or the business
ceasing to trade, it is the acquirer who is liable for
repaying the customer. When the high transaction
values typically seen in travel are factored into the
equation, acquirers can find themselves exposed
to tens of millions of pounds worth of risk for a
single travel business. Many simply do not have
the appetite for that level of risk.
Risk is usually managed by the acquirer through
withholding cash as collateral. But there are
several drawbacks that makes this a sub-optimal
solution for the travel sector. The drain on
liquidity is an obvious one, but in addition it is
often unpredictable how much acquirers will
withhold to offset the fluctuating risk, and that
makes decision-making and forecasting
extremely difficult. Withheld funds also cannot be
shown on a company’s balance sheet.
So it will come as no surprise that travel sector is
trying to find a new way of working with acquirers
as they strategize recovery and growth beyond the
pandemic. And progressive payments companies
are looking for new solutions to work more
harmoniously with the sector, specifically
replacing cash collateral with a trust-based
mechanism called safeguarding.
With safeguarding, the travel business still lodges
a cash reserve with a third party. But instead of
being repaid in large sums often at the acquirer’s
discretion, the funds are released steadily on a
planned basis either when or shortly before travel
takes place.
This new way of working addresses both the
liquidity and transparency issues the travel
industry has consistently voiced its concerns
about. Funds held in trust can also remain on the
company’s balance sheet.
Working towards
a better future
Cash collateral was the go-to solution for
managing acquirers’ risk exposure in the travel
sector for years. But this system is no longer fit for
purpose. Safeguarding will soon become the most
common mitigation process for travel merchants
and acquirers. It will enable airlines and the rest of
the travel industry to avoid tying up critical funds
that would be better spent on running and
expanding great businesses, as well as attracting
investment through making balance sheets
healthier.
Early adoptors of safeguarding will have a
significant advantage in the future as we rebuild
beyond the pandemic.

travel tech
Trends Shaping
Travel and How to
Capitalize On Them
BY INES STOLL
Travel has continued to recover this year, with IATA’s
data showing airline industry revenues are expected to
be 43% higher than 2021. Our own analysis also
suggests resilient demand, concluding that consumers
were prepared to protect spend on travel ahead of
other discretionary areas, like home improvement or
fashion.
As we kick off 2023, how might the travel industry
benefit from advances in fintech? And conversely,
where can the fintech sector find new growth
opportunities in the travel industry?
Do you remember when opening a bank account meant
walking into a high street branch or when only a small
number of banks offered financial services? The world
has moved on, with the maturing of digital-first
challenger banks and the widespread availability of
fintech services.
Embedded finance is the natural continuation of this
trend, where financial services like payments, lending
and current accounts become embedded in our everyday
digital experiences. According to Bain, more than 5% of
all financial services transactions in the U.S. can already
be classed as “embedded finance” and these
transactions will be worth over $7 trillion by 2026.
With high levels of trust and existing loyalty schemes, the
travel industry is a natural contender to embrace
embedded finance. Will airlines become banks? It really
depends on how you define a bank.
While we don’t expect travel companies to seek
regulatory approval to begin offering lending services,
we do expect them to partner with wholesale providers
of such products. We also think it is increasingly likely
that travellers will be able to purchase and use current
accounts, payments services and loans without leaving
the travel company’s app or website. Rather than travel
companies reselling fintech services and passing
travellers on to the service provider, the industry is
likely to natively embed these services.
2022 has been a year of macroeconomic adjustment.
Currencies have fluctuated across the world and there
is good reason to believe currency volatility will
continue next year.
We think finding novel ways to manage this volatility,
or at least to ensure travel companies and their
customers are protected, will be a significant focus in
2023.
38 TRAVEL TECH / S02 E01

On the B2B side, technology can play a role by
helping travel businesses to hold a number of
different currencies so they can settle with
partners without incurring foreign exchange (FX)
losses. Similarly, we expect greater demand from
travellers for services to be priced in their native
currency, and this will present opportunities for
travel merchants to improve their customer
experience and benefit from FX spreads.
Biometric
Authentication
Authenticating payments smoothly and securely
has been a key focus, with Strong Customer
Authentication (SCA) requirements advancing the
role of biometric authentication as a "second
factor" when proving your identity. It’s already
possible to pay for goods and services online
using biometric authentication options in services
like Apple Pay or Google Pay, but we think the
travel industry can go a step further.
Biometrics are catching on fast for travel use
cases. For example, Amadeus is currently working
with British Airways to trial biometrics at Heathrow
Terminal 5 on selected flights. Passengers that
choose to enroll will no longer need to provide
their boarding pass or passport at check-in, bag
drop or when boarding the aircraft. Instead, facial
recognition is used to validate the passenger’s
identity as they approach each service point.
Similarly, hotel chains are experimenting with
biometrics for self-serve check-in.
It's not a great leap to imagine that these travel
identity checks could be re-used to authenticate
any payments the traveller might make during their
journey, for example, when pre-ordering meals or
upgrading a seat. For travellers choosing
biometrics, making an in-person payment could
soon happen invisibly in the background.
CBDCs and
Stablecoins
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are
natively digital forms of currency, typically
pegged to the country's fiat currency and issued
by the Central Bank, that no longer operates using
the traditional banking or card network rails.
Instead, they’re enabled using blockchain
technology that allows for fast and secure
exchange of value across the web.
At a basic level, we can expect money that is
natively digital by design to present opportunities
for faster and cheaper payment services. This
could be particularly interesting for cross-border
payments or industry settlement schemes in
travel. If these forms of money gain widespread
adoption, then it’s conceivable travellers might
soon be paying for travel using these alternative
digital currencies, with opportunities for cost
effective global payments.
Fiat-backed stablecoins are privately issued
digital currencies backed 1:1 against a fiat,
usually a government-issued currency like the
U.S. dollar or the Euro, maintaining a stable price
with the underlying currency
2022 has shown the important role that payments
and fintech innovation is having across the travel
industry. Our own research suggests that
investment in this area is a high priority for the
majority of travel companies, with fintech being
adopted by OTAs, airlines and corporate travel.
We expect adoption to accelerate further in 2023,
driven by an increasing number of partnerships in
travel and fintech with continued recognition that
smooth and connected payments can be an
important differentiator for travel brands.

h n w i...
Travel Trends Among High
Net Worth Individuals

high net worth
Research Reveals
Luxury Travel is
Booming
BY MAPASEKA SEKGALA
According to a research from Gallivant Africa's high
net worth audiences, the majority of wealthy travellers
are planning to spend more on travel in 2023 than in
2019. Even during the pandemic, they were the ones
travelling when everyone else was grounded. Travel
sales for 2023 pacing 47 per cent higher than 2019.
In January 2022, 85 per cent of high-net-worth (HNW)
travellers surveyed said they were in a “ready-to-travel”
mindset, and 86 per cent planned to take an
international trip. This summer’s crowded airports are
proof that travel is booming once again.
So what kinds of trends are emerging?
Hotel booking windows are much wider than they
were in 2019. Now, the median window for
domestic hotels is 58 days (compared to 2019’s 44)
and 80 days for international hotels (compared to
60). This is good news for hotels, of course, but for
travellers it means more difficulty finding deals and
discounts.
According to Tourism Economics, global outbound
leisure spending won’t fully bounce back until Q2
2024, exceeding 2019 levels by 21 per cent in 2024.
From there, the numbers will keep climbing, surging
to 55 per cent more than 2019 by 2026.
HNW individuals will also be spending more. A
survey of Gallivant Africa's travellers revealed that
74 per cent agree that “creating a travel experience
that best fits my expectations is more important
than price,” with plans to increase the average
spend of US$20,700 per person in 2021 by 34 per
cent, to US$27,800 per person in 2023. Interestingly,
interest in solo travel among the 65+ age group has
increased from 4 per cent in 2019 to 18 per cent in
2022.
18 TECH / S02 E01
Interest in solo travel among people aged 18 to 34 has
dropped from 12 per cent in 2019 to 6 per cent in 2022.
We wonder if that is because so many older people have
lost their partners to Covid? And younger people want to
make up for lost time socialising?)
Regardless of age, the primary reasons for travel in
2022 are “disconnecting from the routines and stresses
of home”, and “connecting with new people, cultures
and ideas”.
Wellness-focused trips are the only category to see a
year-on-year increase in popularity 2021 (13%) vs 2022
(24%), and trips to the islands seem to be gaining
popularity through the rest of 2022 and into 2023.
Finally, “purpose-driven travel remains paramount”.
Environmentally-friendly philosophies and practices and
the preservation of natural and cultural heritage are topof-mind
concerns, especially among Gen Z and
Millennials. And many are willing to pay more.

The luxury travel market is now primarily the
playground of HNW travellers, while UHNWI have
adopted new habits and preferences in response.
The market has split into HNW and UHNW luxury
travel. Before, HNW individuals were taking maybe
four trips a year, staying at moderate
accommodations and flying commercial. Now they’re
taking maybe two trips a year–better trips.
Indeed, HNW individuals are investing more money
into fewer, yet more luxurious travels. For UHNW
travellers, this means their favourite properties are
noticeably busier and rooms and amenities are sold
out – or they book and discover they’re no longer
among their peers. More international travellers are
traveling less and being more cautious about where
they go.
Luxury travellers’ increasing desire for privacy further
emphasizes the trend. The luxury travel agency, MPS
Tours, are noted to receive 61% more inquiries and
bookings for private experiences, private
transportation and exclusive-use properties in 2020
over 2019.
Health concerns may have initiated the shift in
consumer behavior, but a desire for greater privacy
may sustain the trend for some time.
Is Travel the
Pinnacle of Status?
Many four-star properties will continue to offer
reduced services, such as housekeeping upon
request in lieu of daily service. Hotels reaping the
benefits of lower operating costs may permanently
do away with turndown service and other onceessential
amenities, while new airline protocols have
temporarily paused traditional first-class offerings
such as the pre-flight glass of champagne.
Yet travel bookings are stronger than pre-COVID-19
seasons. Aspirational travellers, thrilled to join the
world of luxury hospitality, still have much to enjoy as
they experience a higher level of quality than their
pre-pandemic travels.
Of course, even some of the finest luxury resorts and
airlines are not able to deliver the same services they
did before the pandemic. It’s an unavoidable, albeit
temporary, reality for many. Widespread staffing
shortages have hit the industry hard. Others may
have the staff, but struggle to return to top-tier
service after closing multiple times within the first
pandemic year. Finally, supply and logistics issues
continue to ail industries across the globe; the
hurdles to success are many. Menus have changed,
amenities have been reduced and service snags
abound…the early aftermath of the pandemic has
become all-too-clear in the eyes of loyal luxury
guests.
Value of Privacy &
Exclusivity
The pandemic is no longer a concern for UHNW
travellers. They have the means to access the
conditions they desire, whether requesting fullyvaccinated
staff or booking lengthier yacht and villa
rentals to ensure the air is COVID-free and fresh upon
arrival. They’re also acquiring more yachts, villas and
planes, with summer home sales rising in South
Africa, Mauritius and Kenya. Ownership ensures all
standards are achieved, and that access is solely
reserved for the people they trust.
Every conversation should go beyond travel, to
consider lifestyle instead. They used travel to define
the luxury life, but they don’t need to be seen at the
entrance of the Ludus Magnus anymore. What’s
shifted is privacy. It’s about doing things with their
lifestyles that they don’t need to post about.

car review
Ford has made
some great
quality-of-life
improvements that
anyone who uses
their Ranger for
more than just
carting kids will
appreciate.
With an unlimited budget, that’s the dream. A
camper atop a truck is your unlimited access
card to Africa’s unbeatable public lands.
BY ASHTON SOBHUZA
The exterior of the new Ranger has been
toughened up with design language
borrowed from its American F-150 cousin.
You get 50mm more bakkie from the
slightly extended wheelbase and track
width. The C-clamp daytime LED running
lights, as seen on the new Everest, make
their return.
The front grille has been redesigned with a
strong horizontal bar which continues down
the sides of the vehicle through a strong
shoulder line.
There is an assortment of other features,
all integrated into the vehicle so as not to
feel tacked on. Ford said it listened closely
to what existing Ranger owners want and it
shows.

car review
First off, there are outlets for the internal 400W
inverter in the load box. The tailgate comes
adorned with a rubber ruler on the inside lip for
easy measuring and you’ll find a few spots to
clamp things down. There are even slots in the
walls of the load box to help with storage
management if you’re the kind of person who
likes to keep things tidy.
The cabin of the next-gen Ranger follows in the
footsteps of the next-gen Everest in that it
actually feels next-gen instead of just claiming to
be because it’s new.
Depending on the derivative you go for, you’ll
either get a 10.1 or 12in vertical touchscreen
infotainment system for controlling settings and
features. The instrument cluster has been
digitised as well, although it didn’t have the same
advanced feel that the Everest Platinum did.
The passenger dash holds an integrated ledge for
your passenger’s phone; cup holders in front of the
A/C vents (to keep drinks cool) as well as two
more in the centre; and a dedicated place for your
french fries (not really).
We’ll start by saying that, for the moment, your
only options are double cabs. The other cab
layouts should start appearing by April 2023. If
you’re waiting for the new Ranger Raptor, it should
appear around then as well.
Based on our time with the new Ranger, we feel
confident in saying Ford has found a winning
formula here. This, together with the new Everest
(which is based on the Ranger), are some of the
most advanced vehicles we’ve driven.
These two additions would probably be enough to
call the Ranger ‘next-gen’ on their own. But it has
more to offer.
Both the XLT and Wildtrak models we drove have
a camera up front. When you switch to low-range
gearing, the camera displays on the centre
console with an overlay of where your wheels are
going. This makes navigating unfamiliar terrain
almost too easy. The Wildtrak derivative steps
this up with a full 360-degree camera feed which
isn’t the highest resolution we’ve ever seen but if
it saves you from pushing over a pole, does it
matter?
Elsewhere in the cabin, you’ll find plenty of places
to put things. There’s a spot in the middle that
supports wireless charging; there are USB ports
dotted around for wired charging.
46 CAR REVIEW / S02 E01

10 Things You Should Know About
Bulawayo
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, is the
industrial heart of the country, but this shouldn’t
deter visitors. The city is sedate and elegant, with
wide, tree-lined boulevards and attractive colonial
architecture. Also known as the City of Kings, it is a
major transport hub, sitting on the Cape to Cairo
trans-African highway and, as such, offers many
attractions for the tourist and business traveller
alike.
The city dates back to pre-colonial days, when it was
founded in the 1840s by the Ndebele king, Lobengula
Khumalo.
Nearly half a century later it was invaded by the
British South Africa Company during the Matabele
War, and colonised by Cecil Rhodes in 1894. The
grand colonial architecture that stands today soon
followed, and Bulawayo's claim to fame is that it had
electric lighting (switched on in 1897) before London
did! The population today remains majority Ndebele.
Wide tree-lined avenues, parks and charming
colonial architecture make Bulawayo an attractive
one. It has a lovely historic feel to it, and it's worth
spending a night or two, especially given it's a
gateway to Matobo National Park, and an ideal
staging point for Hwange National Park and Victoria
Falls.

10 Things
Getting There
Bulawayo is served by Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo
International Airport, which underwent renovations
recently. It is located about ten kilometres from
the city and is serviced by Air Zimbabwe, SAS,
South African Airways, South African Airlink and
Iberia.
Getting Around
It is fairly easy to get around Bulawayo on foot
during the day, but taxis are advised during the
evenings for safety’s sake. However, there are
several pleasant areas in Bulawayo’s older areas
that are worth wandering through. Driving is by far
the easiest way to get around though so car hire
is recommended, although road conditions have
deteriorated over the past few years. Alternative
options are to take the local taxis, which are light
blue in colour, or to take your chances with the
informal minibus taxi system (cheap and
convenient, but crowded and in poor condition).
Where to Stay
As one of the highest rated hotels, the Nesbitt
Castle is a pricier option but the Victorian-style
architecture and superb grounds make it well
worth the stay. Friendly and efficient staff and a
well-regarded restaurant make this the pick of the
city. For more standard, business-friendly
accommodation, you can’t go wrong with the
Holiday Inn Bulawayo, especially if you’re on a
tighter budget. Conveniently located near the CBD
and industrial areas, it’s equipped with all the
requisite business facilities. The Mpala Boutique
Hotel is also a good bet for business travellers:
convenience and reliability is the order of the day.
There are flights into Bulawayo from all of South
Africa’s major airports and daily flights from
Harare. Getting into the city, you will need to hire a
rental car (Avis and Europcar), take a taxi or hop
on an airport shuttle. There are no buses or train
services into the city from the airport but a taxi can
be hired, and the 20 minute journey into town.
48 10 THINGS / S02 E01
REVIEW / S02 E01
55

Eating Out
As with many second cities, Bulawayo is laid back
in style but there’s plenty to experience food-wise.
At 26 on Park, food is clearly viewed as an
experience. Superb dishes with high quality
presentation, served in a tranquil garden setting,
offers the perfect lunch or dinner out. Meals on
offer include spare ribs, lamb shanks and pizzas.
The Bulawayo Club, once a gentleman’s club, is
now an interesting colonial throwback. A woodpanelled
bar is a great drinking spot during the day
and the open-air atrium is excellent for lunches.
New Orleans restaurant offers reasonably priced
meals, best enjoyed on the deck. The steaks are
amazing.
Nightlife
Not known for its vibrant night scene, there are still
places where you can enjoy the evening. The
Terrace Bar, which has been a popular drinking
spot for decades, has just completed renovations
and is aiming to lure live bands and reintroduce
live entertainment for its patrons. Horizons is an
upmarket restaurant, bar and nightclub in the heart
of the city with a great lounge atmosphere and a
swimming pool and rooftop terrace. If pubs are
more your style, the City of Kings is full of them; try
Cape to Cairo (also recently renovated) for live
music or Mosaics for all-night dancing
10 Things
In the City
You won’t lack for anything to do here; Bulawayo
is home to a veritable treasure trove of museums
and galleries. The Natural History Museum of
Zimbabwe is a great place to start. It houses a
fascinating geology section and has the
distinction of possessing a dodo egg and one of
the first ever caught coelacanths, as well as the
second largest elephant display in the world.
The Railway Museum houses many colonial relics
including Cecil Rhodes’ personal train carriage; a
great option for children and train fundis. The
Khami ruins (22km outside the city) are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once the
capital of the Kingdom of Butua. Well worth the
drive.

10 Things
Shopping
There are plenty of modern shopping complexes in
the city so all your basic needs are well catered for.
At the Bulawayo Centre (in the centre of the CBD) or
the Ascot shopping centre, you’ll find all the usual
amenities including travel agent, news agent, clothing
shops, etc.
There are also several places in which to find local
arts and crafts and curios: Induna Arts and Tendele
Curio Shop are both good picks for local jewellery,
textiles, carvings, paintings and artifacts, while Jairos
Jiri Craftshop sells crafts made by disabled people,
including great baskets.
Out of the City
Strategically located along the trans-continental
highway, Bulawayo is a tourist mecca. It also benefits
from being located close to several national parks.
Matobo National Park is also a UNESCO Natural
World Heritage Site and includes an Intensive
Protection Zone breeding a large population of Black
and White Rhinoceros. It’s situated in the Matobo
Hills and the terrain is a hikers’ paradise. The Hwange
National Park is the largest game reserve in
Zimbabwe and is on the main road from Bulawayo to
Victoria Falls. It boasts a large variety of wildlife with
one of the largest elephant populations in the world.
History & Culture
Bulawayo is situated on some of the most ancient
rock in the world, and the city itself is one of the
oldest and most historically important in the country.
The city was founded by the Ndebele king, Lobengula,
in the 1870s. The name Bulawayo means “place of
slaughter”, which refers to the conflict that occurred
when Lobengula took the throne. In 1893, King
Lobengula was forced to evacuate by British South
Africa Company troops during the Matebele War.
Colonial influences are present throughout the city.
Today, the city is in a state of decline thanks to the
ongoing economic crisis in Zimbabwe but is still rich
in cultural history.
Health & Safety
Bulawayo is renowned for its friendliness during
the day but at night the city gets very quiet.
Common sense applies here, as it does in any
large metropolis. Use taxis at night and stay away
from the more salubrious areas as muggings and
theft do occur.
While malaria is present throughout the year in the
Zambezi Valley (including the Victoria Falls), the
risk is negligible in Harare and Bulawayo. Take
precautions if you do plan on leaving the city
confines.

trends
Top 10 Most Powerful
Passports In Africa
and How To Access
Global GDP BY LALI MAKHALIMA
The total private wealth currently held on the African
continent is USD 2.1 trillion and is expected to rise by 38%
over the next 10 years, according to the latest 2022 Africa
Wealth Report.
The report reveals that Africa’s ‘Big 5’ private wealth
markets — South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and
Kenya — together account for over 50% of the continent’s
total wealth.
Global travel now at around 75% of pre-pandemic levels,
those with the opportunity to do so are embracing
‘revenge travel’.

Direct link between
passport strength
and economic
power
On a macro level, the new study by Henley & Partners
reveals that just 6% of passports worldwide give their
holders visa-free access to more than 70% of the
global economy. And only 17% of countries give their
passport holders visa-free access to more than fourfifths
of the world’s 227 destinations.
Although we don’t often think of our passports in a
financial sense, they are a gateway to fiscal
opportunity. A stronger passport isn’t just about
greater freedom of movement: it’s about greater
financial freedoms in terms of investing and
entrepreneurial opportunities.
Research proves the causal relationship between the
ability to travel, foreign investment in a country,
increased trade, and economic growth. “The analysis
shows predictive power flowing from the Henley
Passport Index and Henley Passport Power to
economic growth. Moreover, these links are mutually
reinforcing and agglomerative. Skills and talent go
where there is the ability to work, invest, and travel,
attracting others wishing to do the same and creating
a positive loop.
Cross-country visa-free access to more stable
economies helps investors mitigate country- or
jurisdiction-specific risks. In general, greater access to
the world’s economic output is advantageous as it
expands the basket of products available to any
individual.
While this is also attainable through international
trade, the options available with physical access are
far greater, extending to the use of services that are
non-exportable such as better-quality education and
healthcare 18 TECH / S02 E01
How passport strength can transform a country’s fate –
and vice versa.
Countries are once again embracing the geopolitical
adage that collecting people is collecting power, after
almost three years of stagnation. “International travel is
surging to record levels, dozens of countries have
launched nomad visa or golden visa schemes, and
relocations are surging to take advantage of remote
work opportunities, settle in friendly tax regimes, or
adapt to the impact of climate change on property
markets.
The Gambia is the biggest faller on the index over the
past decade. Ironically, it ranked immediately above the
UAE at the end of 2012, in 63rd place, but while the UAE
passport has soared, The Gambia’s has followed a
radically different trajectory. It currently sits in 77th
place, having fallen 14 spots over 10 years, with a score
of just 69 and access to only 5% of the world’s
economic output. Most of the countries that have fallen
sharply over the preceding decade have been afflicted
by conflict and economic crises.
Investment migration provides a pathway to economic
mobility
As they have done throughout the index’s 18-year
history, countries with residence and citizenship by
investment programs fare very well on the 2023 ranking.
In a highly unpredictable and volatile world, economic
mobility and cross-country visa-free access to more
stable economies helps investors mitigate risk and
secure additional income streams. For instance, if an
investor acquires a St. Kitts and Nevis passport through
the country’s citizenship by investment program, they
secure the rights and benefits that come with being a
citizen of that country as well as the considerable
advantage of visa-free access to nearly 40% of global
GDP. In the case of Malta, its investment migration
offering provides access to over 80% of the world visafree
as well as nearly 70% of global GDP. For investors
from countries with poor visa-free access, the global
mobility and economic advantages and opportunities
associated with acquiring a more powerful passport are
indisputable.

parting shot
A C O L L E C T I O N O F A U D A C I O U S T H O U G H T S F R O M O U R C O M M U N I T Y O F T R A V E L L E A D E R S
TECH >
BEYOND THE
DARK MATTER
Airport executives must
consider key factors as they
shape their strategies toward
airport change and evolution,
including the need for clarity of
purpose and effective
partnering and collaboration
within the airport ecosystem.
Digital technology presents
airports and their users with a
wealth of new opportunities.
These opportunities extend
beyond a focus on cost
reduction and can also deliver
benefits for revenue generation,
operational performance, and
the customer experience.
To deliver and sustain these
benefits, airports must develop
the culture and capabilities to
anticipate future digital
technologies, innovate so that
the technologies find tangible
applications that are relevant to
the specific airport, and invest
in the capabilities and
partnerships that will be needed
to deliver sustained digital
transformation.
54 PARTING SHOT / S02 E01
AIRPORTS >
CASE FOR THE
DIGITAL AIRPORT
There is an ever-increasing demand for global
air travel and with limited infrastructure and
fierce competition, airports and their industry
partners are under pressure to evolve their
processes in order to remain competitive.
As passenger volumes continue to grow exponentially, and the needs and
expectations of passengers and airlines become even more diverse,
airports can no longer satisfy these expectations using traditional
approaches. Faced with the prospect of capital-intensive expansion projects
that take years to deliver, digital technologies can, at the very least be used in
a tactical way to help airports extract the maximum value from their existing
assets, especially by enhancing passenger flows and reinforcing the On-Time
Performance (OTP) that is so important for airlines and passengers.
However, what is also clear is that in order to reap the full benefits of these
new technologies in the future, airports are not at the end of the road, and
must continue to evolve on a daily basis. In conclusion, this paper identifies
four strategic imperatives for airports to consider, as they continue on their
journey from Airport 2.0 to Airport 3.0, and achieve a new digital norm, in
which the focus moves beyond tactical cost reduction or operational
enhancement, toward the holistic enhancement of airport value propositions.